More Details On Apple’s iPhone Error 53 Issue

Yesterday we posted about Apple’s iPhone Error 53 issue, which saw the error appear when a non authorized Apple part was used in the device for a repair.

Kyle Weins who is one of the co-founders of iFixit contacted us to let us know more details about the Error 53 problem and it would appear the issue can occur even if genuine Apple parts have been used in the repair.

The iPhone Error 53 appears when the Touch ID sensor has been replaced on an iPhone by a non Apple technician, this will apparently happen with aftermarket parts and genuine Apple parts.

Apple confirmed yesterday that this is related to the security surrounding Apple’s Touch ID, but it would appear there is more to the issue than first thought, you can see a statement from iFixit below which explains what is happening when the error occurs.

For the record, the issue isn’t non-genuine parts or independent repair. The ‘Error 53′ happens with Apple parts as well. It’s a synching issue — you could swap the flex cables between two brand new iPhone 6’s and run into the same problem. The problem is that Apple hasn’t released the tool to synchronize new parts with people’s phones.

Manufacturers using their monopoly to block third party repair isn’t a new issue — auto manufacturers have also tried to lock out local mechanics. It took ‘Right to Repair’ legislation to force the automakers to do the same thing. Hopefully Apple is savvier than they were. But if they don’t, legislation has been introduced in four states (New York, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Nebraska) to force them to support local repair shops.

As we can see from Kyle’s statement, this issue is slightly different than we had originally thought, as the error can happen when using genuine Apple parts for a repair.

We can understand Apple wanting to protect the security around their Touch ID sensor when using non genuine parts, but when a genuine Apple part is used, there really should not be an issue.

This basically stops anyone but Apple repairing the iPhone as when your device is connected to a computer after a repair by a third party, the device will effectively be bricked.

At the moment the iPhone Error 53 problem is apparently only effecting iPhone 6 And iPhone 6 Plus handsets, the guys from iFixit are looking into whether this may also effect Apple’s latest devices, the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.